⚽️🇮🇹 Christian Pulisic's hot streak keeps going...
👋 Ciao a tutti!
Welcome to Calcio Weekly, your comprehensive weekly digest of Italian soccer.
This week, we’re taking a look at Christian Pulisic’s continuing successes, we’re learning about the Coppa Italia, and we’re turning our attention to Frosinone’s brightest star…
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🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic’s hot streak continues
If Christian Pulisic has set himself a new year’s resolution to keep up his excellent form for AC Milan, he’s certainly off to a great start.
👏 The USMNT star assisted Rafael Leão’s 90th-minute effort in Milan’s 4-1 win over Cagliari in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday. The victory sends the Rossoneri into a quarterfinal bout with local(-ish) rivals Atalanta next week.
👍 After playing most of the season in a wide forward role, Pulisic was introduced into the cup game as a central midfielder, known in Italy as a trequartista. The term literally means “three quarters” in Italian, and describes a central playmaker who operates between the midfield and attacking line. After the game, coach Stefano Pioli expressed an interest in playing Pulisic in this role more often.
🎉 Last weekend, the versatile American helped his side cap off 2023 in the best possible way, by scoring the winner against Sassuolo…
⚽️ The 25-year-old now has seven goals and five assists this season in all competitions. Only striker Olivier Giroud has scored more (nine).
🤗 It’s clear that Pulisic is lifting his teammates—in more ways than one.
➡️ Up next for Pulisic and Milan: Pioli’s charges travel to 19th-place Empoli on Sunday (6.30pm ET on Paramount+). Milan has won their past two matches at the Carlo Castellani Stadium.
🏆 Explained: The Coppa Italia
Those who are new to the world of calcio may appreciate a brief explanation of Italy’s premier domestic knockout cup competition, the Coppa Italia.
ROMA-CREMONESE 2-1 | HIGHLIGHTS | Roma mount late comeback | Coppa Italia Frecciarossa 2023/24
🇮🇹 The Coppa Italia has been running since 1922 and is organized by Lega Serie A. It’s the Italian equivalent of England’s FA Cup, Germany’s DFB Pokal or Spain’s Copa del Rey.
🥊 It is a single-game elimination format, except for the semifinals, which are held over two legs.
🤓 The competition is open to the 44 teams who make up Serie A, Serie B and Serie C. Twelve Serie A teams join in at the Round of 64, with the remaining eight seeded top-flight teams entering proceedings at the Round of 16.
🔜 The Round of 16 will be completed today, when Juventus host Salernitana (3pm ET on Paramount+). The quarterfinals will take place next week, from January 9-11.
🏟️ The contest has given us a standout quarterfinal fixture next week, as Lazio will face Roma in a Coppa Italia edition of the Derby della Capitale (Rome derby).
😮 Inter won the tournament for the ninth time last season, with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the final, but were knocked out of this year’s contest in the Round of 16 by Bologna shortly b the holidays.
Fiorentina-Inter 1-2 | Inter lift the trophy! Goals & Highlights | Coppa Italia Frecciarossa 2022/23
🥇 Juventus is the winningest team in the competition’s history, with 14 total victories. Inter and Roma have both lifted the trophy nine times each.
🚝 The competition is formally known as the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa, as it is sponsored by the national high-speed train service. If you are planning a trip to Italy with multiple city stops, they are an excellent option.
🇨🇦 Report: Canadian World Cup star Tajon Buchanan to join Inter
Serie A will reportedly bolster its North American talent pool with Tajon Buchanan’s arrival at Inter.
🇧🇪 The Canadian winger is expected to arrive in Milan from Club Brugge, with whom he reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season.
🇺🇸 Prior to his arrival in Belgium, the Ontario-born winger - who can operate as a fullback or wingback - represented the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.
🌏 The 24-year-old has represented the Canada national team since 2021 and provided the cross for his nation’s first-ever World Cup goal in Qatar.
2022 FIFA World Cup: FASTEST goal of the tournament feat. Canada's Alphonso Davies
🫡 Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena, who coached Buchanan at the Revolution, believes the Canadian can be a boon to Inter’s title campaign:
“The path to a great European career was laid out when he joined Club Brugge and this is only a further step. I have no doubts about his worth.
“I can tell you he doesn’t lack desire to learn and courage. He is part of the new generation of Canadians which we saw at the World Cup. He is a key player for the national team.”
✍️ Inter extend deals for Dimarco, Mkhitaryan and Darmian
While Inter have dipped their toes into the January transfer market, they have also been working to lock in some of their biggest stars.
🔏 Left wing-back Federico Dimarco will extend his second stint with his hometown club until 2027.
🇦🇲 Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved from Roma in 2022, and will continue to call the San Siro home until 2026.
💪 And versatile defender Matteo Darmian has seen his deal extended into a fifth season with the Nerazzurri.
💫 Matías Soulé: Frosinone’s rising star
The scoring in Lazio’s 3-1 win over Frosinone last weekend was opened by 20-year-old forward Matías Soulé.
👏 The 20-year-old Argentine has been turning heads this year with consistent performances that have produced seven goals and an assist in 16 league games. He has been identified as a January transfer target for a number of clubs in January.
🤝 Soulé joined Frosinone this season on loan from Juventus. He progressed from the youth setup and Next Gen teams of his parent club to represent them in Serie A and the Champions League last season.
🧥 Milan get literal with their pre-match apparel
As residents of the fashion capital of the world, Milan players have a sartorial reputation to live up to. Prior to their aforementioned Coppa Italia victory over Cagliari, the Rossoneri showed they are on the frontier of style with some very descriptive jackets…
❤️ There’s no sign of the jackets in the club store yet, but we’ll keep you updated if a “FAN” version is released.
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🇮🇹 How Rafael Leão embraces the city of Milan
In the latest edition of our Champions of Made in Italy series, Milan forward Rafael Leão takes a tour of the stunning Galleria del Corso and discusses his relationship with his adopted home city.
RAFA LEAO looks out from the Galleria del Corso of MILANO | Champions of #MadeInItaly
🫨 ICYMI: Former MLS star Castellanos heads home for Lazio
Lazio were 1-0 down in their aforementioned home game against Frosinone in game week 18, before Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos majestically rose to loop in the equalizer…
💪 Castellanos, who joined Lazio from New York City FC (following a loan spell at Girona) has now registered two goals and three assists this season. Lazio went on to win the game 3-1.
🥳 Happy New Year from Serie A’s coaches
We had to draw attention to this beautiful artwork from our friends on the Serie A social team, who depicted every coach — or “mister” — in the league ringing in the new year together.
🥮 Four coaches ate their panetonne this Christmas - that’s the Italian phrase to describe a coach who departs their job before the holidays. Last season saw four further departures in January and February….
💬 Calcio Conversations
If you have ever been to a game in Italy, you are almost certain to have heard emphatic shouts of “rigore” from the stands.
🤷♂️ What does it mean? A “calcio di rigore” is a penalty kick — and Serie A fans are rarely shy in making their feelings known when they think they are owed one!
🙌 Social Post of the Week: Italiano celebrates with the Fiorentina faithful
How much did Fiorentina’s 1-0 home win over Torino mean to coach Vincenzo Italiano?
It meant this much…
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports and Paramount+
Friday January 5th
Bologna v Genoa (2.45pm ET)
Saturday January 6th
Inter v Hellas Verona (6.30am ET)
Frosinone v Monza (9am ET)
Lecce v Cagliari (12pm ET)
Sassuolo v Fiorentina (2.45pm ET)
Sunday January 7th
Empoli v AC Milan (6.30am ET)
Torino v Napoli (9am ET)
Udinese v Lazio (9am ET)
Salernitana v Juventus (12pm ET)
Roma v Atalanta (2.45pm ET)
🇨🇦 Reading this in Canada? Watch ALL Serie A games LIVE on Fubo - and try it for free! 🇨🇦
Grazie e arrivederci!
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